Vol. 2 No. 4- September 2005
Releasing Hope and Vision
Pastor Rick Lunsford

“Then shalt thou call, and the LORD shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the pointing of the finger, and speaking vanity; 10) And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noonday: And the LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.”
(Isaiah 58:6-11)

I, like many of you, have been glued to the news as of late watching all of the deep grief and turmoil in Iraq, weeping as Israel withdrew from Gaza and the horrible destruction of 90,000 square miles of America’s Gulf Coast; described as the worst natural catastrophe in the history of the USA. I heard one commentator, state; “This is a devastation of Biblical proportions.” These are certainly days of great suffering, distress and hopelessness. Our hearts go out to all of the victims of these horrible tragedies of life.

		A WORD ABOUT PROPHECY Sometimes we can be quick to tag God’s judgment on these and other tragedies in history and around the world, as if the words we write or speak are a prophetic message or an oracle from God. (Please hear me out) I have always been taught that prophetic words, when declaring God’s judgment on a nation or people, should 1) be presented before the catastrophe hits, and 2) the warning should be delivered to those who rule over a nation such as a king, a president, etc, who have the authority and the platform to call the nation to repentance and thereby convince God to relent and leave a blessing instead of judgment.
"Katrina’s Aftermath”

If we declare an event to be God’s judgment on a nation or a people and base our findings on natural tragedies that have already occurred, can we truly call it prophetic? By arranging a list made up of everyday events such as lightening strikes, earthquakes, hurricanes, changes in governmental status, even if they happen concurrently, all of these occurring “after the fact,” we really offer nothing more than a well-written commentary. We have based our “prophetic” premise on past tragedies and unproven theory, in danger of misrepresenting God.

For years now, God has been raising the level of awareness concerning His heart to see Israel grafted back into the true vine and return to their God with the faith of Abraham. We rejoice in the great awakening and restoration of Israel and the Church being freed from the chains of anti-Semitism. However, in our passion we must also discern all of these words being delivered as weighty words from God. They seem to be growing in number with each tragedy that hits a nation or a people. Once these commentaries are released, others desiring to move in the prophetic seem to be tempted to play off of the word or writing and we suffer the snowball effect defiling many. If I, or any brother, proclaim God’s judgment on any nation in such a way, it should cause us all grave concern. And to write or teach such things should cause us to tremble with the fear of God. He alone is judge of Heaven and Earth. In every instance that I have read in the Bible, God has sent His prophets ahead to warn a king or a nation of God’s pending Judgment. This is God’s way.

 

A WORD ABOUT SUFFERING In these days in which we now live “to him who has an ear” we must have our ears in tune tohear the hearts, spirits and souls of men crying out in hopelessness and great despair. This is not the time to point the finger, it is a time when the Church; both Jew and Gentile, should show the world the Fathers love. We have a responsibility, and an opportunity, to be their hope, to be Christ to them.

Israeli Homes Destroyed in Gaza

Our heavenly Father would have us identify with their suffering, to stand in the gap and pray for them, that they might have their eyes and ears opened to the Gospel of Christ Jesus, Yeshua, our Messiah, and be saved. Paul says, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the Sons of God.” (Romans 8:18-26) Beloved, at present the whole world suffers under the curse of sin and we believers live in this world, even though we are not of this world.

We suffer because of the deeds of “the dragon, Satan, who being cast down from heaven has come with great wrath, because he knows that his time is short.” (Revelations 12:12) We also suffer because the world hates God. Yeshua says; “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you.” (John 15:18) We know that the New Testament apostles were whipped, beaten andstoned. They suffered the effects of severe weather, torture and much more. And they rejoiced that they were counted worthy to suffer for Jesus sake. (Acts of the Apostles)

Do we consider it an honor that we are counted worthy to suffer? To the Church in Philippi, Paul writes; “For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him but also to suffer for His sake.” (Philippians 1:29) Here Paul is writing from his prison cell. The Philippians were also going through tremendous times of suffering and persecution. Brethren, we are no different than the Philippians or any other part of the body of Christ throughout the history of man. We also must endure sufferings, the sufferings of Christ, and rejoice that we are counted worthy. Are these sufferings that I am speaking of God’s judgment or is it the enemy, Satan (the accuser of the brethren) that is cashing in on the tragedies of today? Jesus is our only true judge and yet He continues to extend the Gospel of grace in the place of judgment. It is Satan who has come to divide, to kill, steal and destroy. His aim is to turn all men against Jesus and one another. He attempts to halt the plan of God; which is to save mankind, to restore Israel and bring forth a Bride suitable for His Son made up of Jew and Gentile, One New Man.

Is God allowing the tragedies of today to get the attention of sinners and call all men to Himself? Is He arousing Israel out of her slumber and giving her a heart of flesh and blood in place of her heart of stone? I believe that He is. God is looking beyond these temporary afflictions and into the glorious future.

Therefore Brethren, let us be careful as to how we interpret tragedies. Let’s pray for one another and speak life rather than curses and judgment. Jesus said; “ I the Son of man did not come to judge the world, but that the world through Me might be saved.” (John 12:27b)

SPRING SUCCOT INTERCESSION TOUR
March/April 2006

Please be in prayer, even now, for God to be speaking to hearts –
that the Intercession team he is calling together for this tour
would hear and obey. Are you one of this team? We need to start now. Please request your Spring Intercession Tour packet now. This is a time of dire need for intercession in the Land.
Contact Cheryl at 319-393-1096 – mailbox@gratefullygrafted.org